HUM-04 · Mechanical reasoning, historically

Connect a historical calculating/logic machine to a modern LLM claim; separate continuity from marketing.

One historical machine or logic system with real primary/secondary sources the library or teacher can verify (no invented papers). One modern LLM marketing or technical claim (model card, vendor page, or paper — real URL/PDF). Continuity/discontinuity worksheet. Non-claim list about mind, meaning, and authorship mandatory.

Whig history (“Babbage invented ChatGPT”). Treating ads as technical description. Fabricating a historical source. Declaring the LLM conscious by analogy.

Historical brief with verified citations; modern claim excerpt with source; continuity/discontinuity table; essay argument that refuses mind-talk; annotated non-claim list; computational appendix only if the student actually runs a small demo (optional, labeled).

CT: continuity vs marketing. CR: verifiable sources only. CO: peer checks one footnote against the real work. CM: table + essay. CZ: readers sold a false lineage.

History of science, philosophy, or humanities teacher verifies at least two citations exist as cited. Standing instruction: reject invented papers and reject consciousness claims from analogy. School-supervised.

R1: one machine, one modern claim. R2: citations real and checkable. R3: discontinuity given equal space. R4: marketing language labeled. R5: essay scorable. R6: non-claim list on mind/meaning/authorship.

(a) Seamless myth from Pascal to GPT. (b) A gorgeous bibliography of phantom articles.

• Week 1–2: Historical subject and modern claim approved; source list verified exist.
• Week 4–5: Continuity/discontinuity table drafted; peer footnote check.
• Week 7–8: Essay + non-claim list; mentor citation audit.

Lane A immediately (AP Research, IB EE, humanities senior paper). No verified credit claim.